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Papers by Irene Park

Research paper thumbnail of Acculturation and Well-Being Among College Students From Immigrant Families

Journal of Clinical Psychology, Mar 21, 2013

Objective:The present study was designed to ascertain the associations between acculturation and ... more Objective:The present study was designed to ascertain the associations between acculturation and well-being in first-generation and second-generation immigrant college students. Acculturation was operationalized as a multidimensional construct comprised of heritage and American cultural practices, values (individualism and collectivism), and identifications, and well-being was operationalized in terms of subjective, psychological, and eudaimonic components.Method:Participants were 2,774 first-generation and second-generation immigrant students (70% women), from 6 ethnic groups and from 30 colleges and universities around the United States. Participants completed measures of heritage and American cultural practices, values, and identifications, as well as of subjective, psychological, and eudaimonic well-being.Results:Findings indicated that individualistic values were positively related to psychological and eudaimonic well-being, and positively, although somewhat less strongly, linked with subjective well-being. American and heritage identifications were both modestly related to psychological and eudaimonic well-being. These findings were consistent across gender, immigrant generation (first versus second), and ethnicity.Conclusions:Psychological and eudaimonic well-being appear to be inherently individualistic conceptions of happiness, and endorsement of individualistic values appears linked with these forms of well-being. Attachments to a cultural group—the United States, one’s country of origin, or both—appear to promote psychological and eudaimonic well-being as well. The present findings suggest that similar strategies can be used to promote well-being for both male and female students, for students from various ethnic backgrounds, and for both first-generation and second-generation immigrant students.

Research paper thumbnail of The American Identity Measure: Development and Validation across Ethnic Group and Immigrant Generation

Identity, Apr 1, 2012

Two studies were designed to validate a measure of American identity for use with diverse ethnic ... more Two studies were designed to validate a measure of American identity for use with diverse ethnic groups. The American Identity Measure (AIM) was created by adapting the Multi-Group Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM) to refer to exploration and affirmation of individuals' identification with the United States. In Study 1, students from nine U.S. universities (N ¼ 1,773) completed the AIM and the MEIM. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the AIM fit the data well and that the factor structures of ethnic and American identity were equivalent. In Study 2 students from 30 U.S. universities (N ¼ 10,573) completed the AIM, a comparison measure of American identity drawn from recent qualitative work, and measures of American cultural practices and individualist values. The factor structure of scores generated by the AIM was equivalent across ethnicity and immigrant generation, and latent mean scores on the AIM were only modestly different across ethnicity and immigrant generation. Whites and latergeneration immigrants scored higher on American identity affirmation; Asians and first-generation immigrants scored lowest. The AIM was strongly correlated with the comparison measure of American identity (suggesting convergent validity) and with American cultural behaviors (suggesting construct validity). American identity was only weakly associated with individualist values, perhaps implying that American identification may not be as closely intertwined with rugged individualism as previously thought. These results are discussed in light of the availability of American identity for individuals from various ethnic backgrounds as well as the implications of national identity for intergroup relations.

Research paper thumbnail of Erratum Re: “Coping With Racism: Moderators of the Discrimination—Distress Link Among Mexican-Origin Adolescents”

The publisher's final edited version of this article is available at Child Dev This corrects ... more The publisher's final edited version of this article is available at Child Dev This corrects the article "Coping With Racism: Moderators of the Discrimination—Adjustment Link Among Mexican-Origin Adolescents" in Child Dev, volume 89 on page e293

Research paper thumbnail of American Identity Measure

Research paper thumbnail of Reactive and proactive ethnic–racial socialization practices of second-generation Asian American parents

Asian American Journal of Psychology, 2018

Studies of Asian American parenting have primarily focused on first-generation immigrant parents.... more Studies of Asian American parenting have primarily focused on first-generation immigrant parents. Few studies have examined the experiences of second-generation Asian American adults who now have children of their own. The purpose of this qualitative study, then, is to better understand the values, practices, and concerns of second-generation Asian American parents regarding ethnic and racial socialization. The sample included 34 Asian American parents from seven different cities across the United States. Using interviews and a focus group, the results show that (a) place, specific contexts, and transitions were important to second-generation parents' motivation behind ethnic and racial socialization, (b) parents are reactive and proactive, especially with regard to promoting an awareness of discrimination, in the racial socialization of their children, (c) parents engage in predominantly proactive ethnic socialization when passing on

Research paper thumbnail of The Role of Parents’ Ethnic-Racial Socialization Practices in the Discrimination–Depression Link among Mexican-Origin Adolescents

Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 2019

The present study investigated the moderating role of parents' ethnic-racial socialization practi... more The present study investigated the moderating role of parents' ethnic-racial socialization practices (T1) in the link between adolescents' discrimination experiences (T1-T3) and adolescent anxiety and depression, respectively (T1-T3). Using a 3-wave longitudinal design with multiple informants (adolescent, mother, father) reporting on parents' ethnic-racial socialization practices, the data analytic sample comprised a total of 251 (T1) Mexican-origin families from the midwestern United States. Mother and father reports of their own ethnic-racial socialization practices (i.e., cultural socialization, preparation for bias, promotion of mistrust) were entered simultaneously into multilevel moderation models. Results from these multilevel moderation analyses indicated that fathers' promotion of mistrust was a significant moderator in the adolescent discriminationdepression link over time. Specifically, fathers' promotion of mistrust exacerbated the youth discrimination-depression association. Moreover, the difference between the moderating effects of fathers' versus mothers' promotion of mistrust on the youth discrimination-depression association was significant. Cultural socialization and preparation for bias did not significantly moderate the adolescent association between discrimination and mental health, regardless of parent gender (fathers or mothers) or mental health outcome (anxiety or depression). The results are discussed in light of a socioecological framework, with special emphasis on the importance of including (and differentiating between) both fathers and mothers in the investigation of ethnic-racial socialization and implications for future theory building, research, and clinical practice. The problem of racism continues to plague the United States and has been pinpointed as a social determinant of health. According to one recent meta-analysis (Paradies et al., 2015), the association between racism and poor mental health has been

Research paper thumbnail of Gender matters: The influence of acculturation and acculturative stress on Latino college student depressive symptomatology

Journal of Latina/o Psychology, 2015

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between acculturation-related variables ... more The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between acculturation-related variables with depressive symptomatology among Latino college students and the extent to which acculturative stress mediates the association. The extent to which gender moderates these relationships was also examined. Participants were 758 Latina and 264 Latino college students from 30 colleges and universities around the United States. Participants completed measures of acculturation, acculturative stress, and depression. Multigroup path analysis provided excellent model fit and suggested moderation by gender. Acculturative stress mediated the acculturation-depression relationship. One indirect effect was moderated by gender with effects stronger for men: Heritage-culture retention to depressive symptoms via Spanish Competency Pressures. Acculturation and acculturative stress contribute to depression differently for male and female Latino college students. Future research should note the influence of gender socialization on the acculturation process and mental health.

Research paper thumbnail of Religious Discrimination, Religiosity, and Anxiety Among Muslim Americans

Research paper thumbnail of Does Acculturation Moderate the Parenting--Mental Health Association Among Asian Americans?

Research paper thumbnail of Differential links between expressive suppression and well-being among Chinese and Mexican American college students

Asian American Journal of Psychology, 2015

Previous research on culture and emotion regulation has focused primarily on comparing participan... more Previous research on culture and emotion regulation has focused primarily on comparing participants from individualistic and collectivistic backgrounds (e.g., European Americans vs. Asians/Asian Americans). However, ethnic groups that are equally individualistic or collectivistic can still vary notably in cultural norms and practices regarding emotion regulation. The present study examined the association between expressive suppression and well-being in two collectivistic ethnic groups (i.e., Chinese Americans and Mexican Americans). Results indicated that suppression of positive emotions was related to lower hedonic and eudaimonic well-being among Mexican Americans but not among Chinese Americans. Moreover, post hoc analysis revealed that Mexican Americans with a stronger collective identity reported lower eudaimonic well-being when suppressing positive emotions than Mexican Americans with a weaker collective identity. Suppression of negative emotions, by contrast, was unrelated to hedonic and eudaimonic well-being for both ethnic groups. Overall, our findings underscore the importance of taking into account the role that culture and the characteristics of emotion (e.g., valence) may play in the link between emotion regulation and well-being. Keywords culture; expressive suppression; well-being; Chinese Americans; Mexican Americans There is an abundance of empirical data linking expressive suppression (i.e., the inhibition of the outward expressive manifestation of emotional experiences; Gross, 1998) to negative psychological outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and lower life satisfaction (Gross & John, 2003; Gross & Levenson, 1997). However, evidence from several recent studies suggests that the negative impact of suppression on psychological outcomes may be weaker or less prevalent in collectivistic than individualistic cultural contexts (

Research paper thumbnail of The Moderating Role of Locus of Control and Acculturation in the Discrimination-Distress Link Among Latino College Students

Research paper thumbnail of Testing mediation models of anger regulation among Korean American adolescents

Research paper thumbnail of Does Anger Regulation Mediate the Discrimination-Mental Health Link Among Mexican-Origin Adolescents? A Longitudinal Mediation Analysis Using Multilevel Modeling

Developmental psychology, Jan 28, 2016

Although prior research has consistently documented the association between racial/ethnic discrim... more Although prior research has consistently documented the association between racial/ethnic discrimination and poor mental health outcomes, the mechanisms that underlie this link are still unclear. The present 3-wave longitudinal study tested the mediating role of anger regulation in the discrimination-mental health link among 269 Mexican-origin adolescents (Mage = 14.1 years, SD = 1.6; 57% girls), 12 to 17 years old. Three competing anger regulation variables were tested as potential mediators: outward anger expression, anger suppression, and anger control. Longitudinal mediation analyses were conducted using multilevel modeling that disaggregated within-person effects from between-person effects. Results indicated that outward anger expression was a significant mediator; anger suppression and anger control were not significant mediators. Within a given individual, greater racial/ethnic discrimination was associated with more frequent outward anger expression. In turn, more frequent ...

Research paper thumbnail of Racial/Ethnic Discrimination and Mental Health in Mexican-Origin Youths and Their Parents: Testing the "Linked Lives" Hypothesis

The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, Jan 21, 2017

Using a life course perspective, the present study tested the concept of "linked lives"... more Using a life course perspective, the present study tested the concept of "linked lives" applied to the problem of not only how racial/ethnic discrimination may be associated with poor mental health for the target of discrimination but also how discrimination may exacerbate the discrimination-distress link for others in the target's social network-in this case, the family. The discrimination-distress link was investigated among 269 Mexican-origin adolescents and their parents both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. It was hypothesized that parents' discrimination experiences would adversely affect their adolescent children's mental health via a moderating effect on the target adolescent discrimination-distress link. The converse was also hypothesized for the target parents. Multilevel moderation analyses were conducted to test the moderating effect of parents' discrimination experiences on the youth discrimination-distress link. We also tested the moderat...

Research paper thumbnail of Anger suppression, interdependent self-construal, and depression among Asian American and European American college students

Cultural diversity & ethnic minority psychology, 2010

The present study tested a theoretical model of emotion regulation (Yap, Sheeber, & Allen, 2007) ... more The present study tested a theoretical model of emotion regulation (Yap, Sheeber, & Allen, 2007) in a sample of Asian American and European American college students (N = 365). Specifically, the mediating role of anger suppression in the effect of temperament and family processes on depressive symptoms was tested across race and levels of interdependent self-construal (a culturally based self orientation emphasizing connectedness with others). Next, the moderation of the suppression-depression relation was tested by race and interdependent self-construal. Results indicated that the hypothesized model fit well across Asian American and European American students, as well as those with high versus low levels of interdependent self-construal. Anger suppression was a significant mediator of the hypothesized indirect effects on depressive symptoms. Moreover, race and interdependent self-construal moderated the suppression-depression link, such that Asian American status and a stronger in...

Research paper thumbnail of Is Asian American parenting controlling and harsh? Empirical testing of relationships between Korean American and Western parenting measures

Asian American Journal of Psychology, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Perceived racial/ethnic discrimination and antisocial behaviors among Asian American college students: testing the moderating roles of ethnic and American identity

Cultural diversity & ethnic minority psychology, 2013

The present study tested the moderating roles of ethnic identity and American identity on the ass... more The present study tested the moderating roles of ethnic identity and American identity on the association between perceived racial/ethnic discrimination and antisocial behaviors among Asian American college students. Using data from the Multi-Site University Study of Identity and Culture (MUSIC) collaborative, the sample included 1,362 East Asian and South Asian American college students. Perceived discrimination was significantly associated with antisocial behaviors for both East Asians and South Asians. Ethnic identity was not a significant moderator of the discrimination-antisocial behavior link, but American identity exacerbated the association between perceived discrimination and antisocial behaviors for both East Asians and South Asians. Interestingly, the explanatory power of the regression model was greater for South Asians than for East Asians in predicting antisocial behaviors. The importance of attending to American identity as a potential source of risk for Asian America...

Research paper thumbnail of Examining culturally based variables associated with ethnicity: Influences on credibility perceptions of empirically supported interventions

Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology, 2003

Treatment rationales for 2 widely used and empirically supported interventions, cognitive therapy... more Treatment rationales for 2 widely used and empirically supported interventions, cognitive therapy (CT) and time-limited dynamic psychotherapy (TLDP), were examined for their perceived credibility among 136 Asian American college students. This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of culturally based variables (often assumed to underlie ethnicity) and their related effects on credibility perceptions. Variables assessed included cultural identity, self-construals, values, and mental health beliefs. Participants were randomly assigned to read either a CT or TLDP treatment rationale for depression and then rated the credibility of the interventions. Results indicated that cultural identity and self-construals moderated credibility ratings across CT and TLDP rationales. Findings underscore the importance of moving beyond ethnic group analyses to the examination of specific culturally based variables. • cognitive therapy • psychodynamic therapy • Asian Americans • credibility • empirically supported therapies • ethnicity

Research paper thumbnail of An introduction to the composition of the Multi-Site University Study of Identity and Culture (MUSIC): a collaborative approach to research and mentorship

Cultural diversity & ethnic minority psychology, 2013

The Multi-Site University Study of Identity and Culture (MUSIC) is the product of a research coll... more The Multi-Site University Study of Identity and Culture (MUSIC) is the product of a research collaboration among faculty members from 30 colleges and universities from across the United States. Using Katz and Martin's (1997, p. 7) definition, the MUSIC research collaboration is "the working together of researchers to achieve the common goals of producing new scientific…

Research paper thumbnail of Strength in numbers? Cognitive reappraisal tendencies and psychological functioning among Latinos in the context of oppression

Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 2012

The typically positive relationship between cognitive reappraisal and psychological functioning m... more The typically positive relationship between cognitive reappraisal and psychological functioning may be nullified for Latinos embedded within multiple contexts of oppression (Perez & Soto, 2011). Multiply oppressive contexts are characterized by exposure to oppression at a societal level (distal oppression), in the immediate environment (proximal oppression), and at an individual level (personal oppression). We replicated and extended Perez and Soto's (2011) findings by examining whether the reappraisal-psychological functioning association was moderated by (a) relative numerical representation of Latinos within the environment (proximal oppression) and (b) personal perceptions of discrimination (personal oppression) among 425 Latino college students throughout the United States. For Latinos in high-Latino counties, greater use of reappraisal was associated with better psychological functioning, regardless of perceived discrimination; this relationship was absent for Latinos in low-Latino counties who perceived greater discrimination. Findings highlight the importance of considering how contextual factors can alter the adaptive functions of emotion regulation strategies.

Research paper thumbnail of Acculturation and Well-Being Among College Students From Immigrant Families

Journal of Clinical Psychology, Mar 21, 2013

Objective:The present study was designed to ascertain the associations between acculturation and ... more Objective:The present study was designed to ascertain the associations between acculturation and well-being in first-generation and second-generation immigrant college students. Acculturation was operationalized as a multidimensional construct comprised of heritage and American cultural practices, values (individualism and collectivism), and identifications, and well-being was operationalized in terms of subjective, psychological, and eudaimonic components.Method:Participants were 2,774 first-generation and second-generation immigrant students (70% women), from 6 ethnic groups and from 30 colleges and universities around the United States. Participants completed measures of heritage and American cultural practices, values, and identifications, as well as of subjective, psychological, and eudaimonic well-being.Results:Findings indicated that individualistic values were positively related to psychological and eudaimonic well-being, and positively, although somewhat less strongly, linked with subjective well-being. American and heritage identifications were both modestly related to psychological and eudaimonic well-being. These findings were consistent across gender, immigrant generation (first versus second), and ethnicity.Conclusions:Psychological and eudaimonic well-being appear to be inherently individualistic conceptions of happiness, and endorsement of individualistic values appears linked with these forms of well-being. Attachments to a cultural group—the United States, one’s country of origin, or both—appear to promote psychological and eudaimonic well-being as well. The present findings suggest that similar strategies can be used to promote well-being for both male and female students, for students from various ethnic backgrounds, and for both first-generation and second-generation immigrant students.

Research paper thumbnail of The American Identity Measure: Development and Validation across Ethnic Group and Immigrant Generation

Identity, Apr 1, 2012

Two studies were designed to validate a measure of American identity for use with diverse ethnic ... more Two studies were designed to validate a measure of American identity for use with diverse ethnic groups. The American Identity Measure (AIM) was created by adapting the Multi-Group Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM) to refer to exploration and affirmation of individuals' identification with the United States. In Study 1, students from nine U.S. universities (N ¼ 1,773) completed the AIM and the MEIM. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the AIM fit the data well and that the factor structures of ethnic and American identity were equivalent. In Study 2 students from 30 U.S. universities (N ¼ 10,573) completed the AIM, a comparison measure of American identity drawn from recent qualitative work, and measures of American cultural practices and individualist values. The factor structure of scores generated by the AIM was equivalent across ethnicity and immigrant generation, and latent mean scores on the AIM were only modestly different across ethnicity and immigrant generation. Whites and latergeneration immigrants scored higher on American identity affirmation; Asians and first-generation immigrants scored lowest. The AIM was strongly correlated with the comparison measure of American identity (suggesting convergent validity) and with American cultural behaviors (suggesting construct validity). American identity was only weakly associated with individualist values, perhaps implying that American identification may not be as closely intertwined with rugged individualism as previously thought. These results are discussed in light of the availability of American identity for individuals from various ethnic backgrounds as well as the implications of national identity for intergroup relations.

Research paper thumbnail of Erratum Re: “Coping With Racism: Moderators of the Discrimination—Distress Link Among Mexican-Origin Adolescents”

The publisher's final edited version of this article is available at Child Dev This corrects ... more The publisher's final edited version of this article is available at Child Dev This corrects the article "Coping With Racism: Moderators of the Discrimination—Adjustment Link Among Mexican-Origin Adolescents" in Child Dev, volume 89 on page e293

Research paper thumbnail of American Identity Measure

Research paper thumbnail of Reactive and proactive ethnic–racial socialization practices of second-generation Asian American parents

Asian American Journal of Psychology, 2018

Studies of Asian American parenting have primarily focused on first-generation immigrant parents.... more Studies of Asian American parenting have primarily focused on first-generation immigrant parents. Few studies have examined the experiences of second-generation Asian American adults who now have children of their own. The purpose of this qualitative study, then, is to better understand the values, practices, and concerns of second-generation Asian American parents regarding ethnic and racial socialization. The sample included 34 Asian American parents from seven different cities across the United States. Using interviews and a focus group, the results show that (a) place, specific contexts, and transitions were important to second-generation parents' motivation behind ethnic and racial socialization, (b) parents are reactive and proactive, especially with regard to promoting an awareness of discrimination, in the racial socialization of their children, (c) parents engage in predominantly proactive ethnic socialization when passing on

Research paper thumbnail of The Role of Parents’ Ethnic-Racial Socialization Practices in the Discrimination–Depression Link among Mexican-Origin Adolescents

Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 2019

The present study investigated the moderating role of parents' ethnic-racial socialization practi... more The present study investigated the moderating role of parents' ethnic-racial socialization practices (T1) in the link between adolescents' discrimination experiences (T1-T3) and adolescent anxiety and depression, respectively (T1-T3). Using a 3-wave longitudinal design with multiple informants (adolescent, mother, father) reporting on parents' ethnic-racial socialization practices, the data analytic sample comprised a total of 251 (T1) Mexican-origin families from the midwestern United States. Mother and father reports of their own ethnic-racial socialization practices (i.e., cultural socialization, preparation for bias, promotion of mistrust) were entered simultaneously into multilevel moderation models. Results from these multilevel moderation analyses indicated that fathers' promotion of mistrust was a significant moderator in the adolescent discriminationdepression link over time. Specifically, fathers' promotion of mistrust exacerbated the youth discrimination-depression association. Moreover, the difference between the moderating effects of fathers' versus mothers' promotion of mistrust on the youth discrimination-depression association was significant. Cultural socialization and preparation for bias did not significantly moderate the adolescent association between discrimination and mental health, regardless of parent gender (fathers or mothers) or mental health outcome (anxiety or depression). The results are discussed in light of a socioecological framework, with special emphasis on the importance of including (and differentiating between) both fathers and mothers in the investigation of ethnic-racial socialization and implications for future theory building, research, and clinical practice. The problem of racism continues to plague the United States and has been pinpointed as a social determinant of health. According to one recent meta-analysis (Paradies et al., 2015), the association between racism and poor mental health has been

Research paper thumbnail of Gender matters: The influence of acculturation and acculturative stress on Latino college student depressive symptomatology

Journal of Latina/o Psychology, 2015

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between acculturation-related variables ... more The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between acculturation-related variables with depressive symptomatology among Latino college students and the extent to which acculturative stress mediates the association. The extent to which gender moderates these relationships was also examined. Participants were 758 Latina and 264 Latino college students from 30 colleges and universities around the United States. Participants completed measures of acculturation, acculturative stress, and depression. Multigroup path analysis provided excellent model fit and suggested moderation by gender. Acculturative stress mediated the acculturation-depression relationship. One indirect effect was moderated by gender with effects stronger for men: Heritage-culture retention to depressive symptoms via Spanish Competency Pressures. Acculturation and acculturative stress contribute to depression differently for male and female Latino college students. Future research should note the influence of gender socialization on the acculturation process and mental health.

Research paper thumbnail of Religious Discrimination, Religiosity, and Anxiety Among Muslim Americans

Research paper thumbnail of Does Acculturation Moderate the Parenting--Mental Health Association Among Asian Americans?

Research paper thumbnail of Differential links between expressive suppression and well-being among Chinese and Mexican American college students

Asian American Journal of Psychology, 2015

Previous research on culture and emotion regulation has focused primarily on comparing participan... more Previous research on culture and emotion regulation has focused primarily on comparing participants from individualistic and collectivistic backgrounds (e.g., European Americans vs. Asians/Asian Americans). However, ethnic groups that are equally individualistic or collectivistic can still vary notably in cultural norms and practices regarding emotion regulation. The present study examined the association between expressive suppression and well-being in two collectivistic ethnic groups (i.e., Chinese Americans and Mexican Americans). Results indicated that suppression of positive emotions was related to lower hedonic and eudaimonic well-being among Mexican Americans but not among Chinese Americans. Moreover, post hoc analysis revealed that Mexican Americans with a stronger collective identity reported lower eudaimonic well-being when suppressing positive emotions than Mexican Americans with a weaker collective identity. Suppression of negative emotions, by contrast, was unrelated to hedonic and eudaimonic well-being for both ethnic groups. Overall, our findings underscore the importance of taking into account the role that culture and the characteristics of emotion (e.g., valence) may play in the link between emotion regulation and well-being. Keywords culture; expressive suppression; well-being; Chinese Americans; Mexican Americans There is an abundance of empirical data linking expressive suppression (i.e., the inhibition of the outward expressive manifestation of emotional experiences; Gross, 1998) to negative psychological outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and lower life satisfaction (Gross & John, 2003; Gross & Levenson, 1997). However, evidence from several recent studies suggests that the negative impact of suppression on psychological outcomes may be weaker or less prevalent in collectivistic than individualistic cultural contexts (

Research paper thumbnail of The Moderating Role of Locus of Control and Acculturation in the Discrimination-Distress Link Among Latino College Students

Research paper thumbnail of Testing mediation models of anger regulation among Korean American adolescents

Research paper thumbnail of Does Anger Regulation Mediate the Discrimination-Mental Health Link Among Mexican-Origin Adolescents? A Longitudinal Mediation Analysis Using Multilevel Modeling

Developmental psychology, Jan 28, 2016

Although prior research has consistently documented the association between racial/ethnic discrim... more Although prior research has consistently documented the association between racial/ethnic discrimination and poor mental health outcomes, the mechanisms that underlie this link are still unclear. The present 3-wave longitudinal study tested the mediating role of anger regulation in the discrimination-mental health link among 269 Mexican-origin adolescents (Mage = 14.1 years, SD = 1.6; 57% girls), 12 to 17 years old. Three competing anger regulation variables were tested as potential mediators: outward anger expression, anger suppression, and anger control. Longitudinal mediation analyses were conducted using multilevel modeling that disaggregated within-person effects from between-person effects. Results indicated that outward anger expression was a significant mediator; anger suppression and anger control were not significant mediators. Within a given individual, greater racial/ethnic discrimination was associated with more frequent outward anger expression. In turn, more frequent ...

Research paper thumbnail of Racial/Ethnic Discrimination and Mental Health in Mexican-Origin Youths and Their Parents: Testing the "Linked Lives" Hypothesis

The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, Jan 21, 2017

Using a life course perspective, the present study tested the concept of "linked lives"... more Using a life course perspective, the present study tested the concept of "linked lives" applied to the problem of not only how racial/ethnic discrimination may be associated with poor mental health for the target of discrimination but also how discrimination may exacerbate the discrimination-distress link for others in the target's social network-in this case, the family. The discrimination-distress link was investigated among 269 Mexican-origin adolescents and their parents both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. It was hypothesized that parents' discrimination experiences would adversely affect their adolescent children's mental health via a moderating effect on the target adolescent discrimination-distress link. The converse was also hypothesized for the target parents. Multilevel moderation analyses were conducted to test the moderating effect of parents' discrimination experiences on the youth discrimination-distress link. We also tested the moderat...

Research paper thumbnail of Anger suppression, interdependent self-construal, and depression among Asian American and European American college students

Cultural diversity & ethnic minority psychology, 2010

The present study tested a theoretical model of emotion regulation (Yap, Sheeber, & Allen, 2007) ... more The present study tested a theoretical model of emotion regulation (Yap, Sheeber, & Allen, 2007) in a sample of Asian American and European American college students (N = 365). Specifically, the mediating role of anger suppression in the effect of temperament and family processes on depressive symptoms was tested across race and levels of interdependent self-construal (a culturally based self orientation emphasizing connectedness with others). Next, the moderation of the suppression-depression relation was tested by race and interdependent self-construal. Results indicated that the hypothesized model fit well across Asian American and European American students, as well as those with high versus low levels of interdependent self-construal. Anger suppression was a significant mediator of the hypothesized indirect effects on depressive symptoms. Moreover, race and interdependent self-construal moderated the suppression-depression link, such that Asian American status and a stronger in...

Research paper thumbnail of Is Asian American parenting controlling and harsh? Empirical testing of relationships between Korean American and Western parenting measures

Asian American Journal of Psychology, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Perceived racial/ethnic discrimination and antisocial behaviors among Asian American college students: testing the moderating roles of ethnic and American identity

Cultural diversity & ethnic minority psychology, 2013

The present study tested the moderating roles of ethnic identity and American identity on the ass... more The present study tested the moderating roles of ethnic identity and American identity on the association between perceived racial/ethnic discrimination and antisocial behaviors among Asian American college students. Using data from the Multi-Site University Study of Identity and Culture (MUSIC) collaborative, the sample included 1,362 East Asian and South Asian American college students. Perceived discrimination was significantly associated with antisocial behaviors for both East Asians and South Asians. Ethnic identity was not a significant moderator of the discrimination-antisocial behavior link, but American identity exacerbated the association between perceived discrimination and antisocial behaviors for both East Asians and South Asians. Interestingly, the explanatory power of the regression model was greater for South Asians than for East Asians in predicting antisocial behaviors. The importance of attending to American identity as a potential source of risk for Asian America...

Research paper thumbnail of Examining culturally based variables associated with ethnicity: Influences on credibility perceptions of empirically supported interventions

Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology, 2003

Treatment rationales for 2 widely used and empirically supported interventions, cognitive therapy... more Treatment rationales for 2 widely used and empirically supported interventions, cognitive therapy (CT) and time-limited dynamic psychotherapy (TLDP), were examined for their perceived credibility among 136 Asian American college students. This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of culturally based variables (often assumed to underlie ethnicity) and their related effects on credibility perceptions. Variables assessed included cultural identity, self-construals, values, and mental health beliefs. Participants were randomly assigned to read either a CT or TLDP treatment rationale for depression and then rated the credibility of the interventions. Results indicated that cultural identity and self-construals moderated credibility ratings across CT and TLDP rationales. Findings underscore the importance of moving beyond ethnic group analyses to the examination of specific culturally based variables. • cognitive therapy • psychodynamic therapy • Asian Americans • credibility • empirically supported therapies • ethnicity

Research paper thumbnail of An introduction to the composition of the Multi-Site University Study of Identity and Culture (MUSIC): a collaborative approach to research and mentorship

Cultural diversity & ethnic minority psychology, 2013

The Multi-Site University Study of Identity and Culture (MUSIC) is the product of a research coll... more The Multi-Site University Study of Identity and Culture (MUSIC) is the product of a research collaboration among faculty members from 30 colleges and universities from across the United States. Using Katz and Martin's (1997, p. 7) definition, the MUSIC research collaboration is "the working together of researchers to achieve the common goals of producing new scientific…

Research paper thumbnail of Strength in numbers? Cognitive reappraisal tendencies and psychological functioning among Latinos in the context of oppression

Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 2012

The typically positive relationship between cognitive reappraisal and psychological functioning m... more The typically positive relationship between cognitive reappraisal and psychological functioning may be nullified for Latinos embedded within multiple contexts of oppression (Perez & Soto, 2011). Multiply oppressive contexts are characterized by exposure to oppression at a societal level (distal oppression), in the immediate environment (proximal oppression), and at an individual level (personal oppression). We replicated and extended Perez and Soto's (2011) findings by examining whether the reappraisal-psychological functioning association was moderated by (a) relative numerical representation of Latinos within the environment (proximal oppression) and (b) personal perceptions of discrimination (personal oppression) among 425 Latino college students throughout the United States. For Latinos in high-Latino counties, greater use of reappraisal was associated with better psychological functioning, regardless of perceived discrimination; this relationship was absent for Latinos in low-Latino counties who perceived greater discrimination. Findings highlight the importance of considering how contextual factors can alter the adaptive functions of emotion regulation strategies.